Finch (fĭnch), n.; pl.Finches (–ĕz). [AS. finc; akin to D. vink, OHG. fincho, G. fink; cf. W. pinc a finch; also E. spink.] (Zoöl.) A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to the family Fringillidæ.
☞ The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch, goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc.
Bramble finch. See Brambling. — Canary finch, the canary bird. — Copper finch. See Chaffinch. — Diamond finch. See under Diamond. — Finch falcon(Zoöl.), one of several very small East Indian falcons of the genus Hierax. — To pull a finch, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting person. “Privily a finch eke could he pull.” Chaucer.